Air turbine starting means for gas turbine power plants



Aug. 26, 1952 N. c. PRICE AIR TURBINE STARTING MEANS FOR GAS TURBINE POWER PLANTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 6, 1942 P m w N I N4 THAN CPR/CE- Aug. 26, 1952 N. c. PRICE 2,608,054

AIR TURBINE STARTING MEANS FOR GAS TURBINE POWER PLANTS Orig inal Filed March 6, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. NATHAN. C. PRICE Agenj Aug. 26, 1952 ,N. c. PRICE 7 2,608,054

AIR TURBINE STARTING MEANS FOR GAS TURBINE POWER PLANTS Original Filed March 6, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOP MIT/1AM C. PR/Cf Aug. 26, 1952 N. c. PRICE 2,608,054

AIR TURBINE STARTING MEANS FOR GAS TURBINE POWER PLANTS Original Filed March 6, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 TWO WAY COCK ,FlG.7.

INTEROOOLER WHEEL TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE DEVICE PRESSURE AOTUATED SWITCHING DEVICE GEPERKTOR COOLER I /v l/EN 7'00 N4 THAN CPR/Cf N. C. PRICE Aug. 26, 1952 AIR TURBINE STARTING MEANS FOR GAS TURBINE POWER PLANTS Original Filed March 6, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Mm R N EC v r H N y B G F u 7 I mm Patented Aug. 26, 1952 ,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR TURBINE STARTING MEANS FOR GAS TURBINE POWER PLANTS Nathan C. Price, Hollywood, Calif., assignor to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, Calif.

Original application March 6, 1942, Serial No.

433,599, now Patent No. 2,540,991, dated February 6, 1951. Divided and this application September 8, 1945, Serial No. 615,167

compressors of the power plant to bring them up to the starting speed and to maintain that speed until the plant is self-motoring. The air pressure employed for starting the plant is bled from This application is a division of my copending 5 the power plant compressors and stored in a flask application, Serial No. 433,599, filed March 6, for the subsequent starting operations, and an 1942, now Patent No. 2,540,991. auxiliary or stand-by air pressure producing Power plants of the classes above mentioned means is provided to assure the maintenance of are useful for the propulsion of aircraft and other sufficient pressure in the flask for starting the vehicles. It is desirable in such applications to P t at a y e. e Starting y e s Selfprovide a starting system for initiating operacontained and is always available for initiating tion of the power plant and to provide a control operation of the power plant. means for effecting simple manual control of the Another object of the invention is to provide various power plant elements. It is also im- .a control system of the class above mentioned portant to obtain sequential operation of the which obtains the proper sequence of operation of starting system and control system elements and the starting motor, fuel injection means and fuel to coordinate the control means for the efficient i niting means to quickly initiate power plant operation of the power plant under various conoperation. Simple movement of the manual ditions of speed, load, altitude, etc. So far as I throttle lever to the starting position results in am aware, power plants of the above class that the automatic operation of the starting motor, have been introduced and suggested do not emfuel injection and igniting means in the correctly body control and starting systems capable of obtimed sequence. taining these results. A further object of the invention is to provide It is therefore a general object of this invena control and starting system of the character tion to provide apower plant of the internal comme t o above wh t star motor bustion reaction type or turbo-compressor type serves, during operation of the power plant, to embodying an easily and conveniently operable drive a generator associated with a storage batstarting and control system for producing setery set and further serves as a refrigerating or quential operation of the power plant starting temperature controlling element of a system for and control means and for maintaining full conpressurizing or air conditioning a compartment trol over the power plant during operation. The of the aircraft or vehicle. system of the invention is characterized by a sin- Other objects and features of novelty will be gle throttle lever adapted to be manipulated to evident hereinafter. put the several elements of the starting means This invention in its preferred forms is illusinto operation in the correct sequence in order to trated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully start the power plant and to thereafter control described. the speed of operation of the plant as desired. Figure 1 is an elevation in partial cross section The single throttle lever is the only part of the of the general assembly of the power plant unit system requiring manual operation for starting of the invention. of the power plant, for power plant operation and Figure 2 is a frontal view of the unit taken at for termination of its operation, although the li of Figure control includes certain manually regulable ele- Figure 3 s a Partial cross-sefitional View ta e inents, each incorporating an independent manon the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the arrangeually operable part for effecting minor and more merit of the fuel burners. or less fixed adjustments. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a pair of the Another object of the invention is to provide a burner tubes of Figure 3. power plant control system of the character above u e 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional referred to embodying simple light-weight and view taken at line 5-5 of Figure 3, economical starting means utilizing air under Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken pressure as the actuating medium in a small caon line 6'6 of Figure 5.

pacity air motor which drives the turbine and Figure '7 is a typical flow diagram for the installation of the power unit of Figure 1 in an airplane or airplane wing.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view in partial cross-section of the accessory drive transmission.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the variable opening nozzle.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view of the counter-rotation transmission of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view of the apex of the gas turbine showing the supplementary fuel jets and other details.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a portion of the system illustrating the voltage regulator means and associated parts.

The power plant, in which the present invention is embodied has a cylindrical housing 10 for the multi-stage axial blower C1 which constitutes the first stage air compressor. The housing I!) is provided at the forward end with an annular opening l l defined by a grooved spigot l2, both of which are of substantially full axial blower diameter and to which a forwardly directed conical ram [3 comprising a tubular conduit of truncated conical shape may be semiflexibly attached by means of a short flexible coupling 14 as best shown in Figure 7. This ram normally extends out of the leading end of the fuselage or the leading edge of the wing according to the type of installation, and faces forward into the relative airstream with the open end of smallest diameter foremost, whereby intake air may be caught and initially compressed in the ram by impact effected by the high velocity of the air relative to the aircraft, under flight conditions prior to its entrance into the beforementioned axial blower.

The rotor shell of the axial blower C1 has a form which may be defined approximately as a truncated, prolate spheroid, and is constructed, preferably, from a relatively thin metal tube spun to the desired shape. A plurality of axially spaced reinforcing rings 2! of suitably varying diameters are attached to the inside surface of the rotor shell 2!} by suitable means such as by welding and furnace brazing, one such ring preferably being positioned opposite each row of the plurality of rows of impeller blades 25.

The forward end of the axial blower rotor 2i] carries a coaxially positioned, forwardly extending hollow spindle 26 with which it is rotatably supported in suitable bearings 2! which are in turn supported within the streamlined forward bearing housing 28. This forward rotor bearing housing 28 is supported and centrally positioned within the axial blower housing inlet spigot l2 by means of a plurality of interconnecting radially disposed, streamlined struts as best shown at 29 in Figure 2. The struts, in addition to their structural function, serve as air straightening vanes to prevent uncontrolled swirl of air at the inlet of the blower, thereby increasing efficiency of compression. The rear end of the rotor shell 28 is closed by the inner formed half 38 of the housing of a fluid coupling unit F which in turn carries a coaxially positioned rearwardly extending spindle 32 as best shown in Figure 8. The fluid coupling structure thus serves as part of the rotor structure, thereby conserving weight and space. Furthermore, in operation, heat developed in the coupling is carried off by indirect heat exchange with the air being discharged from the blower. The said spindle 32 is rotatably supported in suitable needle bearings 4 33 within the end of the shaft 16, which is in turn rotatably supported centrally within the power plant housing by means of bearing 11 carried in a suitable lateral diaphragm or web 35.

The axial blower housing It carries on the inside, a plurality of rows of inwardly extending, radially disposed, stationary diffuser vanes 31 arranged to stand intermediate the rows of impeller blades 25 and fitting with small clearances between said blades and said rotor shell. This housing, which may be fabricated or cast of a light-weight metal such as magnesium alloy, is provided on the outside with a plurality of relatively deep intersecting, laterally and longitudinally disposed ribs 36 for the purpose of imparting suflicient stiffness thereto to maintain impeller-vane clearance to close tolerances.

The inner exhaust end of the axial blower terminates in a split, double scroll outlet housing 3839 having a pair of outlet spigots 40 and 4| which lead through suitable couplings 42-43 to suitable intercoolers which may be arranged in the airplane wings as shown at A L-45 in Figure '7, and hereinafter more particularly described.

The axial blower rotor is driven through a planetary transmission and a fluid coupling as best shown and hereinafter described in connection with Figure 8.

Located in the intermediate portion of the power plant and immediately to the rear of the axial blower transmission is the second stage air compressor unit C2 which is preferably of a high speed multi-stage radial fiow or centrifugal blower type as shown in Figure 1. This centrifugal blower comprises three additional stages of centrifugal compression 5|, 52 and 53 in tandem arrangement with a liquid feed intercooler 54 intermediate its first and second stages.

A pair of inlet nozzle connections 55 and 56 serve to receive the first stage compressed air from the beforementioned wing intercoolers and to introduce it through the annular chamber 51 to the inlet 58 of the first centrifugal impeller 59. A plurality of stationary diffuser vanes 60 receive the compressed air from the impeller 59, and annular chamber 6| serves to direct the flow of air therefrom to the inlet of the said liquid fed intercooler 54 which is more fully described hereinafter. The outlet 65 of the intercooler 54 communicates with the inlet 56 of the second centrifugal blower impeller 61 and the annularshaped chamber 68 formed in the body of the unit in turn serves to direct compressed air leaving impeller 61 after passing through the stationary diffuser vanes 69, to the inlet 10 of the third and final centrifugal compressor impeller 1!. Air from the final stage impeller 'il passes through stationary diffuser vanes 15 to the entrance of the combustion chamber Z.

Cooling is effected by circulation of a suitable liquid coolant such as ethylene glycol through the intercooler coils and through a suitable heat exchanger external to the blower as hereinafter mentioned in connection with Figure '7 in the description of the operation.

The said three centrifugal blower impellers 59, 61 and H are fixed to a common shaft 16 which is rotatably journaled at its forward end in bearing 1E as best shown in Figure 8 and at the rear end in bearing 18 (Figure 10). Bearing 11 and 18 are supported coaxially within the body of the centrifugal blower portion of the power unit by suitable diaphragms or webs 35 and respectively. The forward extension of the centrifugal blower shaft I6 couples into the axial blower and accessory transmission in a manner more fully described hereinafter. The rear end of the shaft I6 carries a bevel ear 82 which constitutes a portion of the counter-rotation transmission through which it is driven by the gas turbine G, also as more fully described hereinafter.

The beforementioned combustion chamber Z into which the final stage compressor discharges, is an approximately annular space defined on the outside by the housing 85 and on the inside by a shroud 88, both preferably fabricated from a heat resistant alloy such as nickel-chromiumiron. The said outside housing 85 and inner shroud 86 are formed with adjacent and oppositely facing Ogee curves which together form in effect, a series of sidewardly interconnected parallel cylindrical pockets or barrels 81 having their axes equidistant from and parallel to the axis of the power unit and adapted to house the plurality of cylindrical burner tubes 88, as best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The substantially annular combustion chamber Z, comprising said pockets or barrels, converges at the rear end to an annular nozzle ring 98 of reduced cross-sectional area and containing in the portion of reduced area, a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes as shown at 84 in Figure l. The said combustion chamber nozzle ring 88 serves to hold a back pressure upon the combustion chamber and to efficiently discharge hot gases at high velocity from the combustion chamber into the expansion zone of the gas turbine G. The beforementioned burner tubes 88 are each coaxially positioned and rigidly supported within each of the combustion chamber pockets 8'! by means of a streamlined tubular strut as shown at 9 I, which passes radially out through the combustion chamber shell 85 and is retained in gastight connection therewith by means of external nuts 89 threaded at 92 to the outwardly projecting portion 93 of the said structs. The inner end of the said strut makes welded connection with a perforated cylindrical sleeve 94 in which the burner tube 88 is firmly gripped. The perforated sleeve 54 and strut SI are preferably constructed of a heat resistant metal alloy such as nickelchromium-iron.

The burner tubes which are preferably constructed of a refractory material such as Carborundum, are as previously stated cylindrical in general form, but are constructed as best shown in Figures 4 and 5 of two concentric tubular portions 95 and 96, which together form an intermediate annular passageway 97 having an approximate Venturi shape as viewed in longitudinal cross section, and an inner straight cylindrical passage 98. The Carborundum can withstand a temperature of 3500 Fahrenheit. In case a thermal fracture should develop in the Carborundum the air-cooled perforated sleeve 85 serves to hold the fractured parts together.

The outer tubular wall 95 of the burner is formed with a plurality of external V shaped flutes of variable depth, as shown at IZlI, which extend upward and vanish at a point about half the length of the burner from the rear or outlet end I82. The inner surfaces of the V-shaped flutes make contact at their inner vertices with the rear portion of the beforementioned. inner tubular portion 98 of the burner, and form in conjunction therewith, a plurality of circumferen tially spaced outlet openings as best shown at I03 in Figure 4;. Concentric support for the rear 6 end of the said inner tube is also thus provided.

A plurality of radially directed holes, as shown at I89, pass through the inner tubular portion of the burner at the throat portion of the Venturi section.

Fuel spray nozzles extend concentrically for a short distance into the forward ends of each of the before described burner tubes, as shown at I85, and each nozzle carries at the inner end, a spray head I86 provided with peripherally spaced perforations I84 adjacent and coaxially directed with respect to the beforernentioned holes I 08 leading into the annular combustion passage.

The said spray nozzle communicate with, and are supported by, air injection tubes I81 which extend laterally through suitable flanged inlet connections I68 provided in the rear portion of the combustion chamber housing 85. These air injection tubes make connection through suitable manifolding III to a source of compressed air; and centrally positioned within the air injection tubes I01, and extending to a point close to the nozzle head is a fuel injection tube II=3 which makes external connection through a manifold IIZ to suitable fuel suppl pumps and regulators hereinafter described in connection with the flow diagram of Figure '7. The fuel spray nozzles are each provided with a spider comprising a number of relatively thin. radially positioned webs, as shown at I22, adapted to fit snugly into the inside of the forward portion of the inner burner tube 85. The said spider thus serves as a positioning and centering support for the forward end of the inner burner tube.

Making threaded connection into each of the outer end portions 98 of the burner tube struts 8i which extend outside of the combustion chamber housing 85, is a glow plug 89 which serves as the igniting means for the combustible fuel-air mixture which is formed in and flows through the burner tubes. The glow plug is constructed with a threaded metal bushing potrion I4 surrounding an elongated central refractory insulating body portion having an inwardly projecting tapered shank I89 extending through the strut 9i to the throat of the burner tube, and'an outwardly extending ribbed insulating portion I 03 carrying a terminal IN. A small filament or coil I23 of high melting point wire such as platinum, supported upon the inner end of the body portion of the plug is electrically connected through a central conductor bar I 24 terminal I2I and a conductor wire !32 to a suitable source of low tension electric current hereinafter more specifically described in connection with Figure '7. The refractory body portion of the glow plug may be composed of Carborundum, mica or the like insulating materials.

The described combustion chamber portion of the power plant is adapted to burn fuel eiiiciently over an unusually wide mixture range, in a very small space employing to the utmost degree the advantages of surface combustion. Here the fuel is uniformly dispersed prior to leaving the nozzles and the gases of combustion formed in the burner tubes are properly mixed with the excess air. The high temperatures are localized at the Carborundum surfaces within the burner tubes which are adapted to withstand heat, whereas the outer casing and fuel spray nozzles, which are exposed only to the air stream, remain comparatively cool.

The gas turbine which is contained within a cylindrical housing H3, comprises a tapered rotor II5 coaxially positioned within the power plant with the end of minimum diameter facing rearwardly in the direction of flow of the propellant gases. The said rotor H is splined at H6 and bolted at I H to the rear end of a hollow, tapered shaft I I8, which is in turn rotatably supported concentrically within the power unit upon a pair of shaft bearings comprising a forward bearing I and a rear bearing II9. The rear turbine motor shaft bearing H9 is supported by means of a hollow truncated cone shaped cantilever member I24 which is attached at its forward end of largest diameter to the transverse bulkhead web 80, which separates the final stage compressor housing from the combustion zone and gas turbine housing.

The gas turbine rotor is provided with a plurality of rows of impeller blades or buckets as shown at I25 in Figures 1 and 11, which may be constructed from heat resistant, high strength alloy such as nickel-chromium-iron. The said turbine rotor blades I25 are adapted to be inserted from the inside and to make a light press fit through suitably shaped openings I26 broached in the rotor shell II5. Internal, circular snap rings I28 adapted to lie in suitable grooves I29 formed along the inside ends of the blade root shoulders serve to hold the blade shoulders firmly in seated position in the rotor at all times.

The plurality of gas turbine stator blades as shown at I30, and which extend radially inward intermediate the before described rows of i peller blades are attached by welding at their outer root ends to the interior surface of the cylindrically shaped turbine housing H3.

At the apex of the turbine rotor, a conical cap member I encloses a space I3I into which fuel may be injected under pressure by way of a bore I36 within the hollow turbine shaft H8. The said conical cap is provided with a plurality of divergingly directed orifices I31 equi-spaced in its periphery and adjacent its end of greatest diameter, where it meets and makes oil-tight connection at I38 with the rotor body II5. Injection of supplementary fuel at this point greatly increases the thrust of the power plant by efficiently distributing added fuel to burn the excess air leaving the gas turbine wheel and about to enter the main propulsive nozzle.

The thrust output of the power plant is enhanced by operation with relatively high temperature gases entering the gas turbine. The limitation of temperature has a structural basis. The gas turbine can operate in a higher temperature range than that of conventional turbines because of the structural provisions and cooling arrangements provided.

A truncated cone shaped bafile I43 is provided as a rearward extension of the inner shroud 86 of the beforementioned combustion chamber Z. The tapering annular-like space I44 thus formed between the conical shaped outer turbine bearing support I24 and the said inner combustion chamber shroud 86 and the baflie I43, serves to conduct cooling air under suitable pressure from the annular forward end of the combustion chamber at I45 to the inner apex of the turbine rotor adjacent the bearing I I9, and thence counter-current to the propellant gases in the turbine as shown by arrow I46 back along the inner surface of the turbine rotor H5 and in contact with the inner ends of the rotor blade roots I2'I to the openings in an annular cooling air nozzle ring I4'I, which is immediately inside of, and concentric with, the gas turbine nozzle ring 96. A plurality of drilled ducts as shown at I42, are provided for conducting'a portion of the cooling air from the inside of the rotor to the annular cooling cavity I39 formed between the taper I46 adjacent the end of the turbine rotor shaft and an adjacent relieved concavity MI in the turbine rotor. A plurality of exhaust nozzles I48 are provided for exhausting cooling air from the cavity I39 into the secondary combustion chamber S, and are in the form of drilled cap screws which pass through suitable holes in the cap I35 and make threaded connection into nipples I59 which are welded to the turbine rotor body. The said nozzles thus also serve to retain the cap I35 in oil-tight position on the apex of the turbine. The turbine cooling system forms the subject of my copending application, Serial No. 573,562, filed January 19, 1945, now Patent No. 2,563,744.

Immediately to the rear of the gas turbine, and attached at I to the gas turbine housing, is the secondary combustion chamber 8- and nozzle section N which comprise an approximately Venturi shaped housing I56 carrying a refractory lining I5'I which may be Carborundum or the like material, as best shown in Figure 9. The secondary combustion chamber is shaped to utilize the kinetic energy of the residual gas velocity from the turbine wheel so that it is additive to the kinetic energy of the propulsive jet.

An annular baffle I60 having a streamlined section similar to that of an airfoil is concentrically supported adjacent the gas turbin exhaust within the entrance to the secondary combustion chambers and diametrically opposite the secondary fuel orifices I37 in the rotor cap I35 by means of a plurality of radially directed interconnecting streamlined struts ISI. This bafile is preferably constructed with a leading edge portion I62 of heat resistant metal such as a nickel-chromiumiron alloy and a body and trailing edge portion I63 of Carborundum, or like refractory material.

The nozzle portion N is provided with an inner longitudinally movable annular throat member I65 supported upon a plurality of parallel, axially positioned rods E66 which extend through and make a sliding fit in suitable holes in the nozzle lining and are fixed at the inner ends to an annular shaped servo piston I61 located within an annular shaped servo cylinder H58 in the nozzle body as best shown in Figure 9. The piston I61 and annular throat member I65 are urged rearwardly by means of a number of coil springs I69 acting under compression against the forward or rod side of the said annular piston.

The said parallel axially positioned rods I66 upon which the annular throat member I65 is movably supported, are provided with coaxial bores as shown at I16, which extend through the servo piston I61 and thus provide pressure equalizing passages through which gases from the chamber S can enter the working end of the cylinder I68. The rod end of the said annular cylinder I68 is provided with a plurality of atmospheric vent ducts as shown at Ill. The head end of the cylinder IE8 is provided with a bleed duct I12 connected through tubing I13 with a bleed control valve body I'M which may be located at any convenient place within the airplane structure. The said bleed control valve I14 comprises a stem I'I5 having a needle point adapted when closed to rest upon a beveled valv seat I". The valve bleed is vented to atmosphere at H8. The said needle valve stem I is operatively connected through suitable linkage comprising lever I79, rod I86 and bell crank I8I, to a fly-ball speed governor I49 which may be driven from one of the gas turbine accessory drive shafts such as indicated at 589, whereby an increase or decrease of turbine speed will act through the said governor I49, to respectively increase or reduce the needle valve opening. The lever I19 is pivotally supported at I52 upon a threaded shaft I53 by means of which the speed setting of the governor with respect to the needle valve action can be adjusted through a shaft extension I54 by means of wheel I58 which may be conveniently located in the flight compartment.

The movable annular throat member I55 is so shaped that its axial displacement resulting from the speed responsive pressure variation in cylinder I68 as influenced by the action of the needle valve bleed I14 as controlled by the governor I49 results in an effective change ofnozzle area, at the same time maintaining streamline and high nozzle efficiency. The variable nozzle means just described forms the subject of my copending application Serial No. 734,649, now abandoned.

Power is adapted to be transmitted from the gas turbine to the radial and axial blowers and to the various auxiliary drive shafts throughout the unit through suitable gear transmissions which comprise the following apparatus:

Referring primarily to Figures 1, 8 and 10, the forward end of the hollow gas turbine shaft II8 carries fixed at a point just forward of the bearing I20, a bevel gear I85 which meshes with a plurality of bevel pinions as shown at I86, each splined to the inner end of a radially positioned auxiliary drive shaft as shown at I81 in Figure 10 and at I81 and 589 in Figure 7. The said auxiliary pinion drive shafts are each rotatably supported upon a pair of suitable bearings as shown at I88 and I89, and a number of such shafts as required, are arranged to pass radially through the forward portion of the combustion chamber through tubular housings I90 and out of the combustion chamber housing through stuffing boxes as indicated at I9I.

Fixed to the rear end of the radial blower shaft 16 and adjacent the bearing 18- is a bevel gear 82 which also meshes with the before mentioned bevel pinions I86. Shafts 16 and H8 are thus adapted to counter-rotation with respect to one another, through the action of the transmission comprising bevel gears I85 and 82, and bevel pinions I86.

A pipe 510 for supplementary fuel, enters the combustion zone housing as shown at 504 in Figure 7 and extends radially through a tubular housing 51I not occupied by an auxiliary drive shaft to a centrally positioned angle fitting 512 adjacent the forward end of the gas turbine shaft IIB. A tube 513 extends from the said angle fitting 512 through a packing gland 514 and into the central bore I36 of the said shaft. An oil line 515 similarly makes connection at 516 with the central bore of the centrifugal compressor shaft 16 by way of which lubricating oil may be introduced under pressure through the rear, axial blower shaft 32 and into the fluid coupling by wayof opening I91 in the housing as best shown in Figure 8.

Referring now primarily to Figure 8, which shows in enlarged detail, the type of axial blower transmission employed in the unit of Figure l, the centrifugal compressor shaft 16, as before stated, is rotatably journaled at the fore and aft ends in bearings 11 and 18 respectively. The shaft 16 makes connection just forward of the bearing 11 through a conical flange I93 with a planetary drive spider I94, which carries therein 10 siX parallel shafts upon which are rotatably mounted six planetary pinions as shown at I95. A further extension I of the shaft 16, forward of the planetary drive spider I94, enters the fluid coupling housing 303I and carries fixed on the end thereof, the fluid coupling impeller I89. The just mentioned forward shaft extension I96 makes a rotatable fit over the rear axial blower shaft 32 at 209. A laterally directed drilled hole I91 is provided interconnecting the fluid coupling housing with the bore I98 of the rear axial blower shaft 32 through which oil may be introduced under suitable pressure into the said coupling. Annular clearance 2II between the outside of shaft 32 and the coupling housing entrance is provided for continuous escape of oil from the coupling .unit.

The beforementioned planetary pinions I95 mesh with an inner sun gear 20I which is keyed to the axial blower spindle 32 at 202, and they also mesh with an outer planetary ring gear 203 formed on the inside diameter of the bevel accessory drive gear 204. The ring-like unit comprising the bevel gear 204 and the planetary ring gear 203 are rotatably supported upon the outside shoulders of the planetary spider I94.by means of a pair of suitable ball bearings 285. The bevel gear 204 meshes with a plurality of bevel pinions, as shown at 201, which are carried on radially positioned outwardly extending accessory drive shafts as shown at 208, which are rotatably supported in suitable bearings 209 carried in the transmission housing 2 I8. The said outwardly extending accessory drive shafts make external connection with auxiliary variable speed apparatus, as more fully described in connection with the auxiliary apparatus and controls of Figure '1. An oil scavenging line for withdrawal of oil discharged from the fluid coupling enters the bottom of the transmission housing at the lowest point, as shown at 585.

The axial blower outlet spigots 40 and M each make connection through suitable conduits as shown at 42 and 43 to wing skin intercoolers 44 and 45 which are positioned spanwise in the wings. Each skin intercooler comprises an airtight outflow and a return iiow portion 45 and 41 interconnected at 3I4, and preferably bounded inpart by a portion of the upper and lower wing skins respectively, and adapted thereby to permit heat exchange directly through those portions of the wing skin to the relative air stream flowing in contact with the outside surface thereof. The pressure of the air discharged from the axial blower is sufficiently low to permit it to be confined in this manner directly in suitable portions of the wing structure, as for example, in corrugations directly underlying the skin. Thus the air can be intercooled to a temperature close to that of the wing-air boundary layer. The said return portions 41 of the wing intercoolers make connection through ducts 3I5 and M5 with the inletspigots 55 and 56 of the second stage compressor C2. 7

The outlet spigots 40 and II of the axial blower C1 make connection through suitable curved ducts 42 and 43 to the outward flow passes 46-46 of the spanwise arranged wing skin intercoolers 44 and 45. The return passes ii-41 of the wing skin intercoolers 4445 make connection through suitable curved ducts 3I53 I 5 to the inlet spigots 55 and 56 of the radial blower compressor C2.

Auxiliary shafts 388 project from the axial blower transmission and extend spanwise through the wing and make geared connections at 389 with longitudinally positioned shafts as shown at 392 which are adapted to drive boundary layer removal fans 395. 3

Each of the boundary layer removal fans 395 communicates on the suction side with boundary layer removal slots 3'11 through suitable passages within the wing. The exhaust ends of the fans communicate through similarly formed conduits it a s an i extending pas a eway 443. w thin h ne whi h n t rn ay communicate w h an augmenter at the nozzle N.

he b ndar l yer removal and co tr l means and system form the subject of my copending app i at o ia o. 572, 24, filed January 15., 1945, now issued as Patent No. 2,514,513 July 11, 1950.

Referring now to Figure 7, a flow diagram illustrating the arrangement of suitable piping, manual and automatic controls, and auxiliary apparatus which may be associated with the power nit for its installation in an airplane, is shown.

The power unit hereinbefore described, and as shown at RC1C2ZGSN, is provided with a pair of horizontally and oppositely directed auxiliary shafts 288 and 388 and obliquely extending auxiliary shaft 6 H and 8 I 9. extending from the axial blower transmission. The auxiliary shafts 388 make driving connection through suitable gearing asv shown at 38.9 with the longitudinally positioned drive shafts 392 of the boundary layer removal fans 39.5. The. auxiliary shaft 268 makes driving connection with one or more centrifugalcoolant circulating pumps as shown at 420. The Suction, of said coolant pump 428 connects through suitable piping 421 with the outlet connection of a cooler 422 not shown in Fig. 7, which may be located in any suitable position within the fuselage or wing and preferably adapted to effect heat. exchange from thev coolant to the air stream through the. fuselage orwing skin. The discharge from the coolant circulation pump connects through pipe 423. with the. inlet of the surface intercooler 54 in the centrifugal blower housing. The coolant outlet 424. of the said surface intercooler is connected to. the. inlet of the cooler 422 through pipe 425.. Ethylene glycol, or like fluid, may be employed as the. circulated coolant ma-- terial.

The boundary layer removal fans as shown at 39.5. are provided. with blades 421, the pitch of which are adapted to. bevaried over a wide range by'means of suitable. gearing contained in the fan hub 428., and which may be arranged as disclosed inUnited States Patent No. 2,29%,350. According- 1y. said fan blade pitch varying mechanism in each hubis adapted to be actuated by means of pushpull rods which enter the front point of the hub 428; coaxially as best shown. at 429v Figure '7. Inward and outward motion of the rod 42-9moves the. fan blades to positions of smaller or greater angles of incidence relative to the airupon. which said blades act when in rotation. A bell crank 430. pivotally supported within the airplane wing at 43l serves to reciprocably link said push-pull control rod: 429. with rod 432 which is in turn pivotally connected at 433. with the outer end of a lever 434. The central pivot 435 of the said lever 434 is pivotally carried at the lower end of a rod 436: which extends out through a stuffing box in the wall of a closed chamber 438. The said rod 436- makes connectionat its innerend with the free end of a closed Sylphon bellows 439. The opposite, or relatively fixed end of the said Sylphon bellows 439- iscarriecl on the lower endof' a threaded adjustable rod 440 which extends upward and out through a stuffing box in the upper wall of the chamber 438. The top of the rod 448 is rotatably connected through suitable gearing 442 to a manual adjusting means 443 which may be located in the flight compartment of the airplane.

The end of lever 434 opposite to pivot connection 433 makes rotatable connection by means of a suitable ball and socket joint 445 to the outer end of a needle valve stem 446 of a needle valve 441 adapted to be closed upon extended downward movement of said stem. Pipes 448 and 449 make connection with the inlet and outlet connections respectively of said valve.

A spring 450 normally acting under compression, extends between the upper end of the needle valve stem joint 445 and a fixed portion 451 of the bellows chamber 438.

The interior of the bellows chamber 438 is connected by tubing 452 to one or both of the axial blower outlet scrolls as shown at 453 whereby the Sylphon bellows 439 is subjected on the exterior thereof to air pressure corresponding to that of the said axial blower discharge.

The central pivotal portion 435 of the lever 434 is elastically coupled by means of a coil spring 455 to one end of a horizontal lever 456 which makes pivotal connection at the opposite end 451 with the outer end of a primary fuel valve piston rod 460. A coil spring 46! serves as an elastic linkage between an intermediate point 462 of the lever 456 and a control lever 463 which may be located in the flight compartment in such position as to. be conveniently manually operated by the pilot or flight engineer in a manner similar to the conventional engine throttle. In case th pilot or flight engineers control station is remote from the power plant control accessories, the throttle control lever 4.63 may be actuated so. from, such remote station through suitable. linkages or cable cotnrols, not shown.

The above mentioned throttle control lever- 4:63 is pivotally supported at 465 upon a suitable member of the airplane structure.

At a point 466 on the control lever 463 intermediate the attachment point of the beforementioned spring 46! and the, lever pivot 465., a second coil spring 46'! normally acting under compression makes an elastic linkage to the outer end of a secondary fuel valve piston rod 468. An extended portion 469 of the control lever 463 is adapted upon rotative movement of the control lever 463 along the sector 41.0 in the direction of the arrow 4' to first actuate the ignition and fuel pump switch 412 and. then the starter switch 413. in succession.

The 'beforementioned primary and secondary f-uel valve piston rods 460 and 468. enter through stuffing boxes 4 15 and 416 intothe fuel valve housing 411, and are reciprocably supported and guided therein by an intermediate divisional wall 4 19 through which they slidably pass in a liquid and gastight fit. The inner ends of the piston rods 468 and 468 terminate in needle points 482- inthe lower half of the valve housing 411 and interconnected at-both ends by ducts 49! and-4'92. Airpressure and vacuum connections leading to- Carried on the beforementioned piston rods 466 and 469 adjacent the needle points 482 and 48!, are another pair of pistons, 498 and 499 respectively, which make a loose sliding lit in cylinder bores 59! and 55! formed in theupper half of the valve housing 41'! above the division wall 419. The lower head ends of the said cylinder bores 500 and G I are interconnected by a duct as shown at 592 and are connected externally-through a fuel supply pipe line 563 which leads from a pressure fuel feed pump P, which in turn takes suction directly from the bottom of a fuel storage tank T to avoid possibility of suction line vapor lock. The upper head ends of the cylinder bores 500 and 59! are provided with centrally located outlet ports 483 and 484, which constitute the beforementioned beveled needle valve seats upon which the needle points 48! and 492 of the upper ends of the piston rods rest when in the closed position. The said outlet ports 453 make connection through the fuel supply pipe line 495 to the primary fuel burner nozzle manifold E 2, and the outlet port 454 makes connection through the fuel supply line 485 to the combustion chamber housing at 594 and thence through the bore I35 coaxially positioned within the gas turbine shaft I8, to the supplementaryfuel burner orifices I37.

A rheostat 596 having a common support with the fuel valve housing is adapted to be operated to vary the resistance thereof by means ofa movable contact arm 55'! pivoted at 595 and adapted to be actuated through a link 569 interconnecting the lower end of valve rod 469 and crank 516. The electrical circuit thus adapted to be varied is completed by means of the beforementioned ignition and fuel pump snap switch 412 through battery 5! I, conductor 5|2 and said resistance 596, through conductor 5|3 to the fuel pump motor M1 and return by way of the ground connections shown. The electrical power input to the fuel pump drive is thus adapted to be varied as a function of the throttle setting and the fuel demand. At the same time a parallel circuit through the ignition glow plugs is completed by said switch 472 from battery 5! I through conductor I32 and return through the ground connections.

The beforementioned oil line 448 connects through pipe 586 to the outlet of a centrifugal oil pump 58! which takes suction through pipe 588 from the oil scavenging outlet connection 585 in the bottom of the axial blower transmission housing, The oil pump 58'! is adapted to be driven by an auxiliary drive shaft 589 which extends laterally from the counter-rotation transmission of Figure 10.

Also drivenby auxiliary shaft 559, or another suitable one of the auxiliary shafts extending from the counter-rotation transmission, is a centrifugal air booster pump 590 which takes suction through line 59! from the discharge of the final stage air compressor at its inlet to the combustion chamber. The pump 590 dis-charge through pipe 592 to the injection air manifold II! leading to the fuel spray nozzles in the burner tubes as best shown in Figure 5. This insures improved atomization of the fuel and removes radiant heat from burner nozzle parts by convection.

With further reference to Figure 7, 525 is a compressed air storage flask of spherical shape which is interconnected for charging, with the discharge of the final stage air compressor through nipple 495, pipe 521, check valves 528 and 529, and pipes 539 and 53! whereby air at final stage pressure of approximately 250 pounds per square inch may be stored during operation of the power unit. An air compressor A, electrically driven by a motor M2, serves to compress air from an atmospheric intake 532 to a pressure of approximately 300 pounds per square inch and deliver it through pipes 533 and 53! to the air flask 525 for stand-by service or initial starting purposes. The motor M2 is controlled by means of a pressure actuated switching device 535 associated with the air storage flask 525 which functions to close the motor circuit to operate the air compressor when the air pressure in said flask falls below a predetermined value.

A high speed compressed air operated turbine Wheel 53"! is mounted on the drive shaft 538 of an electric generator E. The extension 539 of the generator shaft is coupled through an overrunning clutch 549 to the accessory drive shaft I81 which extends radially from the counter-rotation differential transmission as described hereinbefore, primarily in connection with Figures 1 and 10.

The turbine wheel 53! receives compressed air through two nozzle 54! and 542. The nozzle 54! is connected to the air storage flask 525 through pipe 53!, electric starter valve 543 which by-passes the check valve 529, pipe 544, branch pipe 545, and nozzle control valve 546. Opposite the nozzle 54! the air turbine exhausts to atmosphere through a suitable exhaust pipe shown at 541. The turbine nozzle 542 makes connection with pipe 544 through a branch pipe 548 and a two-way cock 549 which completes the connection either directly through pipe 556 to the nozzle 542, or through pipe 55!, intercooler 552, and return pipe 553 to the said nozzle 542. The exhaust 555 from nozzle 542 may be connected through pipe 555 to the cabin enclosure of the airplane, a fragment of the skin of which is illustrated at 55'! in Figure '7. The beforementioned two-way cock 549 is adapted to be operated to direct flow of air from pipe 544 either through pipe 555 or 55! or to divide flow between them in accordance with the temperature of outflowing air at 558. The said control of cock 549 is accomplished by means of a temperature sensitive device such as a thermostat at 559 acting through a suitable coupling 556 and actuating device 56!. The intercooler 552 is preferably of the skin surface type, and may be located in any suitable place within the fuselage or wing structure where heat exchange with the air stream can be effected. The cabin air condition-- ing system forms the subject of my copending application, Serial No. 575,913, filed February .2, 1945, now Patent No. 2,582,848.

The generator E is adapted to supply a charg trol valve 546 in such a manner as to increase or decrease air supplied to the turbine in accordance with battery charging and electric accessory current needs. The differential voltage sensitive switch 568 is of a conventional voltage operated type, and is so constructed and arranged as to energize electromagnetically actuated means 9 to open the throttle valve 546 when the voltage of the battery 561 drops below a predetermined value, and to close the throttle valve 546. when the voltage of said battery rises above a predetermined value. As diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 12, the conventional differential voltage sensitive switch 568 resembles a volt meter and includes a pivoted spring urged lever or needle 800 carrying a contact 801 adapted to cooperate with a stationary contact 862 on the above mentioned conductor or coupling 569. A multi-turn solenoid 883 having high resistance is connected with the generator-battery leads 565 and 556 to operate the needle 800. A flexible lead 806 connects the contact 604, which is insulated from the needle 866, with the battery lead 565. So long as thevoltage in the battery circuit is above a given value the solenoid 863 serves to hold the contact 661 out of engagement with the contact 802. However when the voltage drops below the given value the contact 801 engages the contact 662 to complete a circuit through leads 565, 896 and 559 to the solenoid 9 which in turn opens the valve 546 as above described.

The operation of the apparatus of this invention will now be described, following for convenie'nce, the sequence of operations from starting of the power unit to cruising conditions.

The control lever 463 is first moved along the sector 41!] from the stop position to the position indicated as ignition. In so doing, the lever extension 469 actuates the ignition sna switch 412 to complete the low voltage electric circuit through the glow plugs by way of conductor I32 and return through the ground connection. The use of a low voltage ignition circuit of this type has the advantages of simplicity, freedom from creating radio interference and efficiency, especially at high altitudes where corona losses and insulating difiiculties are prevalent with the conventional high tension systems commonly employed for internal combustion engines. At the same time, the fuel pump motor circuit is also closed by the same switch to complete the battery circuit from battery through the rheostat 596 and the conductor 513'. At this position the rheostat contact arm 561 is at a position on the resistance windings 586 of maximum resistance and corresponding minimum power input to the fuel pump. At this position the pump produces a comparatively small fuel pressure. When the filaments of the glow plugs have reached the ignition temperature of the gas fuel mixture to be subsequently introduced and the fuel pressure has come up to the starting pressure, the control lever 453 is then advanced to the starter position which actuates the starter switch 413 to complete the electrical circuit from the battery 516 through the conductor 5l4, the solenoid 543 of the starter air valve 543 and return through the ground connections. This completion of the starter circuit results in opening the valve 543 and admitting air from the pressure flask 525 through lines 544, 545, and regulating valve 546 to the nozzle 54! of the air starter turbine wheel 531. This turbine wheel, which is designed particularly for starting with a relatively small fiow of air may be relatively small in size;

for example, it may be six inches in diameter and capable of delivering about. 30 BI-IP. The resultant torque from the turbine wheel 531 is transmitted through the overrunning clutch 540 and shaft 181 to the intermediate pinion'l86 as shown in Figure 10, which meshes with gears I and 82, and drives the gas turbine shaft H8 and the blower shaft 16 in counterrotation with respectto one another. As soon as the turbine and the blowers are up to about 15 per cent of normal speed, sufficient air will be self-supplied by the blower and the compressor of the unit to the combustion chamber to establish an appreciable differential pressure in the pipes 493 and 494, which lead respectively to the point of discharge of the second stage compressor into the combustion chamber at 495 and to the Venturi section of one of the burner tubes as best shown at 491 in Figures 5 and 6. This said differential pressure is communicated to the fuel valve actuating pistons 481 and 488 in the interconnected cylinders 489 and 495, and is such as to tend to move the fuel control needle valves downwardly off their valve seats 483 and 484.

At the starter position of the control lever 463 on the sector 418, the spring 461 is under sufficient compression to hold the needle valve 484 firmly closed, but the compression in spring 461 is at this point so balanced that as soon as the flow of air through the burner tubes is established to a given value during the starter cycle, the above mentioned resultant differential pressure acting upon the piston 481 is sufficient to crack the needle valve 483 and allow a proper amount of fuel to flow through line 485 to the primary fuel jet manifold I I2, and thence to the spray jets [66 in the burner tubes to initiate operation of the power unit. The unit is thus started and brought up to idling speed.

The unit thus becomes self-motoring at approximately fifteen per cent of rated speed, and a smaller amount of starting air is required than if air were released from the tank directly to the inlet of the gas turbine, the flow passages of which are obviously disproportionately large for starting purposes. At idling speed the overrunning clutch 540 disengages the shaft 181 from the starter turbine 531 and the generator E, preventing them from being driven at excessive speeds by the power unit.

Upon further advance of the control lever 463 from the starter position, and along the power steps I to 4 of the sector 415 in the direction indicated by arrow 41!, the compressive force of the spring 461 is further relaxed, tending to allow the primary fuel needle valve to open further and to'feed a greater quantity of fuel to the burner jets. However, regulatory forces are immediately automatically superimposed upon the fuel control valve motion to meter the fuel permitted to how to the burner jets in accordance with the quantity of flow of air through the combustion zone-in order to insure a proper and efficient fuel air mixture, and particularly to produce a nearly constant combustion temperature thereby limited to protect the gas turbine from thermal damage. These regulatory forces are applied to the needle valve stems; for example, the primary fuel needle valve stem 468 in a direction tending to reclose the needle valve by means of the friction of the increased flow of fuel upward around the piston 498 and the force upon piston 481 is, as beforementioned, applied through pipes 493 and 495, and tends to move the needle valve to an open position. The force applied to piston 498 is 17 thus; opposed to that applied to piston 48! and tends to return the valve to a closed position upon flow of fuel through the cylinder, said force being caused by the differential pressure imposed upon the piston 498 by frictional flow of fuel through the small clearance between the piston and cylinder walls and towards the valve outlet 483. The flow of fuel from the primary fuel valve is thus a modified combined function of the rates of flow of fuel and airto the combustion zone, which tends under all conditions to maintain a proper fuel-air ratio for any given power control setting.

Up to this point in the initial stages of operation of the power unit, the supplementary fuel needle metering valve 484 has remained inoperative and in a closed position under the compressive force of spring 461. As the control lever is still further advanced over the power settings on the sector and nears the position marked supplementary fuel, the spring 46'! reaches an elongation Where its compressive force is reduced to a value permitting the supplementary fuel needle metering valve to lift oil the valve seat 484 to allow supplementary fuel to flow through line 486, inlet fitting 504 in the combustion chamber housing, through pipe 510, fitting 512, tube 513 to the bore I36 of the gas turbine shaft H8 and thence to the supplementary fuel orifices I31 in the apex I35 of the gas turbine rotor. Supplementary fuel is thus sprayed into the secondary combustion chamber -S from orifices I31 where it burns in the presence of the excess air carried in the gas turbine exhaust gases.

Still further advance of the control lever causes still further opening of the supplementary fuel valve 484 to supply an added quantity of fuel to the secondary combustion zone. The metering of the supplementary fuel is subject to the same automatic regulation as that before described in connection with the primary metering valve so that the total final quantity of fuel, both primary and supplementary, does not exceed that just required for the burning of all of the air leaving the gas turbine. Were it not for the flow controls described, raw fuel might be lost through the propulsive nozzle.

During the before described forward advance of the control lever 463, the rheostat has been actuated through the associated linkage hereinbefore. described, to progressively decrease its resistance and thus to increase the power input to thefu'el'purnp drive to produce a fuel pressure in line 563 which varies as an approximate function of the demand. The needle does not, in fact, appreciably throttle the fuel, but rather the fuel pump speed is directly controlled at the fuel source according to the fuel quantity requirement and the combustion air back pressure. Theneedle trims the flow to the exact quantity indicated with only small throttling action. This-conserves electric power and prevents fuel vapor lock due to frictional overheating. Furthermore, this fuel pressure system makes possible the use of very small fuel lines since fuel pressure drop in lines is compensated for by the now control. A further controlling factor is thus combined with the automatic characteristic of the fuel metering-valve mechanism which tends to impart automatic regulatory characteristics to the unit as awhole. For example, in the event the control lever is moved forward suddenly, an immediate increase in fuel pressure with momentary corresponding increase in flow to the burner willFresult. This momentary increase in flow of fuel will take care of the acceleration and in- 18 creased primary and supplementary fuel re quirements of the unit under high power output conditions. 5

Assuming now that following the before described starting operations, a relatively low cruising speed of approximately 600 feet per second relative to the air at zero pressure altitude has been attained by the power unit and the associated aircraft, the operation of the internal components of the power unit are as follows:

Air entering the ram R at high velocity and at a pressure of 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute, is compressed by impact to a pressure of approximately is pounds per square inch absolute, at the-inlet I I to the axial blower C1. The air is discharged from the axial blower at a pressure of approximately 26 pounds per square inch absolute into the double scroll outlet housing 3859, and thence through the outlet spigots id and 4| and ducts I2 and. 43 to the Wing skin intercoolers as best illustrated at 44-45 in Figures l and 7.

Cooled first stage compressed air from the said wing skin intercoolers returns through ducts and tie to the spigots strand 56, and thence to the entrance 58 or the first impeller of the multl-stage centrifugal compressor C2. Compressed air from the first centrifugal rotor 59 passes through a liquid cooled surface intercooler :4 where it is again cooled, and thence through centrifugal impellers 6'! and H, and finally through the diifuser vanes 15 into the entrance I 35 of the combustion chamber Z at a final pressure of approximately 240 pounds persquare inch.

Here the compressed air is divided, a major portion flowing on through the internal passages of the burner tubes and through the substantially annular clearance spaces between the burner tubes and the combustion chamber housing'85 and inner shroud 36, and another portion of the air entering at I45 flows for cooling purposes, down through the tapering, substantially annular passageway Hi4 formed between the conical shaped turbine bearing support member I24 and the said inner shroud 86 of the combustion chamber and its baffle extension I63, to the inner apex of the gas turbine rotor adjacent the rotor bearing H9. From here a portion of the cooling air turns, as" indicated by arrow I46 best shown in Figure 11, and hows back along the inner surface of the turbine rotor shell H5 and in heat exchange contact with the inner ends of the rotor blade roots as shown at I21, and finally is exhausted to the gas turbine expansion zone inlet through the annular cooling air nozzle ring' I41 which is positioned immediately inside of and concentric with the annular combustion gas nozzle ring 90 where it joins in laminar flow, the combustion gases issuing from the combustion chamber Z. The air thus flows from the annular inlet at the surface of the turbine rotor and forms a concurrently flowing layer of relatively cool air intermediate the hot propellant combustion gases and the outer surface of said rotor. This relatively cool boundary layer of air thus flowing along the outside surface of the turbine wheel serves to cool and to shield it and the blade roots from the high temperature gases.

Another portion of the air conducted to the inner apex of the gasturbine rotor adjacent the bearing II9 passes through the ducts I42 into the cooling cavity I39 and thence out through the discharge orifices I50 to the secondary combustion zone. Heat is thus carried away from the 19 bearing I I9 and from the massive apex portion of the turbine rotor.

That portion of the compressed air which passes through the clearance spaces between the burner tubes and the combustion chamber walls serves to cool both the chamber housing and the burner tube and to dilute the products of combustion, leaving the burner tubes sufficiently to limit the combustion chamber gases to a safe value. Another portion of the air passes through the central tubular passages 98 of the burner tubes and serves to cool the inner elements thereof including the fuel spray tip and nozzle I and I05. That portion of the compressed air which passes through the Venturi shaped passages 91 of the burner tubes meets and mixes with the atomized spray of fuel issuing radially through the holes I00 in the inner tubular portion of the burner from perforations in the spray nozzle head I06. The resultant air-fuel mixture once ignited by the hot filament I23 of the glow plug 99, continues to burn throughout the length of the burner tube passages. The said burner tubes, as hereinbefore stated, are preferably constructed of Carborundum, which when heated, has catalytic properties which contribute beneficially to the rapidity and efficiency of the combustion process.

The heated gaseous combustion products and excess air of greatly expanded volume are continuously released from the combustion chamber at high velocity through the restricted opening formed through the annular nozzle ring 90 into the initial stages of the gas turbine expansion zone. The metal of the nozzle ring 90 is cooled to some extent by the expansion of cooling air in the adjoining cooling air nozzle ring I41, preventing thermal erosion.

The expanded and partially cooled gases from which a portion of the power has been extracted in passing through the gas turbine in the form of rotative torque applied to the turbine shaft H8, is discharged axially from the gas turbine expansion stages into the secondary combustion chamber S and thence'out through the nozzle N in the form 'of a rearwardly directed and efficiently expanded high velocity reactive gaseous jet; The propulsive force exerted by the reaction of the gases leaving the said nozzle N is the thrust which is utilized in whole or in part to propel the unit and the aircraft with which it is associated. I

Y When additional thrust is required, and at certain times when maximum efficiency of operation of the unit is to be attained, more or less suppl'e'mentary fuel injection into the secondary combustion zone S through the orifices I31 in a manner as hereinb'efore described, is employed. Such supplementary fuel enters the secondary combustion chamber in the form of a fine spray of a mixture of vaporized and atomized fuel where it meets and mixes in most part with the high velocity gases issuing from the gas turbine, with the hea ier particles of the unvaporized fuel spray reaching and impinging upon the inner surface of the annular shaped refractory b'aflle I60. Secondary combustion is thus promoted with the excess air associated with the said gas turbine exhaust gases. The said annular baffle I60 prevents the secondary combustion flame from directly contacting the inner lining of the combustion chamber and aids in the surface combustion of the liquid fuel particles which reach it.

Th transmission of power from the gas turbine 20 to the compressor and auxiliary equipment is as" follows:

The high speed rotation of the rotor of the gas turbine G is transmitted through the turbine shaft H8 and through the before described counter-rotation transmission to the shaft 750i thesecond stage centrifugal compressor C2. The accessory drive shafts I81, through which the unit is brought up to starting speed, as before described, extends radially from the said housing transmission and is driven by the bevel pinion as shown at I86. Another accessory drive shaft 599, similarly driven, extends radially from another convenient portion of th said transmission housing, and serves to drive the before mentioned gra ray nozzle booster air pump 590 and oil pump The chief function of the rotation reversing transmission is substantially to balance or caneel out the gyroscopic effect of the various high speed rotating bodies within the unit, and its incidental value resides in the convenient facilities it providesfor auxiliary drives of the type just jr'neri tioned. The balancing'out of the gyroscopi'c forces is of great importance in a maneuvering type of airplane, particularly in a combat airplane to avoid precessional effects while making quick turns or pull cuts from a dive. V t

The balance of the power from the turbine, not absorbed in driving the auxiliaries and secon stage compressor is transmitted on through the shaft 16 to the axial blower transmission hereinbefore described primarily in connection with Figure 8. The operation of the said axial blower transmission is as follows: i V t 7 t The rotation of the shaft 16 is imparted through flange I93 to the planetary drive spider I94. the plurality of planetary pinions I95 c'arried therein and also to the fluid coupling impeller I99 carried within the housing 30--3I upon the concentric shaft extension I96. As before described, the said planetary pinions I95 mesh on the inside with the sun gear 20I fixed t'o the axial blower shaft 32 and on the outside with the ring gear 203 fixed on the inside diameter of the accessory drive bevel gear 204; The axial blower shaft extension 32 and the bevel gear 204 are thus differentially driven by the beforementioned planetary pinions The bevel gear 204 meshes with the plurality of bevel pinions as shown at 291, which drive a number of acce's sory shafts which extend radially from the differential transmission as shown at 208 and 388 The power transmitted through shaft I6 is thus divided by the planetary pinions I95, between the various accessory drive shafts and the axial blower shaft 32, or in other words, the power transnris mitted through to the axial blower is the difference between the input of shaft 16 to the trans mission and that absorbed by the accessory drives. Therelative speed of rotation of said auxiliary shafts and blower shaft are likewise differential.

Assuming that the fluid coupling is substan tially empty of oil, the relative or differential speeds of the accessory driveshafts and the axial blower shaft will be entirely a function 'of the corresponding torque ofthe combined accessory drives relativeto the torque of the axial blower. For example, if the tordue 'on the accessory drive is light, resulting in its high speed, then the speed of the axial blower will be lower; but if on the other hand, the load on the accessory drive is increased, resultingin lower accessory drive shaft speed, thenthe axial blower speed will be differehtially higher. The methods by which the loadprogressively more directly dependent upon thetransmission input speed of shaft 16JHI6 carrying the coupling impeller I99 and less dependent upon the differential effect of the loading of the accessory shafts, and the speeds of the accessory drives will at the same time be thereby increased with respect to said axial blower speed. In this manner a wide range of power distribution and relative speeds between the accessory drives and axial blower may be attained without the power losses customarily associated with variable speed drives which usually dissipate power wastefully.

In order to maintain the fluid couplings filled with oil, a' constant supply must be maintained by the'pump 581 to compensate for that constantly bled out of the fluid coupling housing'through the annular clearance space 211 between housing 31 and shaft I96, and if the supply of oil is reduced below a certain maximum flow or completely cut off as by closing the needle valve 441, the coupling will slowly empty itself of fluid in this manner either until equilibrium between'the rate of supply and loss'of fluid is reached, or

until the fluid coupling is completely empty. The oil thus released from the fluid coupling is scavenged from the transmission housing through a suitable scavenging outlet connection as shown at 585 and returned through line 588 to the suction of the pump 581 as shown in Figure 7.

The differential power transmitted to the accessory shafts in the manner before described, may be dissipated by rotation of the landing wheels and/or by the counter-rotating propellers for take-off, by driving on the boundary layer removal fans, and coolant fluid circulating pumps and/or other accessory equipment. During cruising flight conditions the accessory power absorption from the differential transmission is largely r controlled by varying the load on the pluraltiy of boundary layer removal fans, and this is accomplished by variation of the pitch of the fan blades as hereinbefore described in connection with Figure '1.

As previously stated, the axial blower speed is partially controlled or trimmed by governing the oil supply to the fluid coupling. This governing is accomplished by a needle valve 4-41, controlled by the Sylphon bellows 439 which is subjected on the exterior to the axial blower discharge pressure transmitted thereto through tube 452. If the axial blower pressure falls below a predetermined value, the resultant reduction in pressure in the bellows housing 438 and the attendant expansion of the bellows 439 tends to close the needle valve and reduce the oil supply, thereby allowing the quantity of oil in the coupling to be reduced. This in turn reduces the degree of coupling between shafts 16 and 32, thus allowing the differential drive to function more freely to increase the axial blower speed relative to the input shaft 16 and thereby to apply a corrective effect upon the said axial blower discharge pressure. increase of axial blower pressure above the same predetermined value similarly results in increased coupling between shafts 1B and 32, tending to reduce the axial blower speed relative to the shaft 16 and to apply again a corrective effect in the opposite sense upon the axial blower discharge pressure. Substantially constant axial compressor discharge pressure is thus maintained with variation in pressure altitude.

The expansion or contraction of the length of the said Sylphon bellows 439 corresponding to the respective decrease or increase of axial blower discharge pressure also acts at the same time through lever 434, link 432, crank 43!) and through the mechanism before described in connection therewith in Figure '1, to increase or decrease the pitch of the blades of the plurality of boundary layer removal fans. The torque thus applied tothe transmission accessory drive tends to vary inversely as a function of the axial blower discharge pressure, the effect of which is to apply:

a corrective effect through the differential trans:-

mission upon the axial blower speed.

For example, if the pressure altitude isfincreased with an attendant reduction in ram inlet pressure, the resultant initial reduction of the axial blower discharge pressure transmitted to fan drive shafts will result, through the difierential action of the transmission, in a corrective in-- crease in axial blower speed which tends toreturn the axial blower discharge pressure to a constant value.

The initial setting and adjustment of the action of the said Sylphon bellows 438 for Lpredetermination of the axial blower discharge pressure to be maintained may be made by thethreaded adjustment onscrew 446 which may be actuated remotely. through a shaft and gearing 442 by means of a manually operated wheel 443 which may be located in the flight compartment for convenience.

When the power unit is in normal operation the overriding clutch 540 acts to disengage the.

generator drive shaft 538 from the accessory drive shaft 181 through which the unit is started as before described. Following this, the generator E is driven solely from the air turbine 531 by air fed through either one or both of the nozzles 54! or 542. Ordinarily the air throttle 546 is actu-. ated by means of a voltage sensitive device 568 in such manner as to supply just sumcient air to primary nozzle 54| to meet the power requirement for current demanded for changing the batteries and for the various electrical facilities within the aircraft.

Air for conditioning and pressurizing the cabin 551 is supplied through pipe 556 from the exhaust 555 of the air turbine secondary nozzle 542 which in turn receives compressed air from the discharge of the second stage compressor of the power unit through pipe 521, 544 and the twocock 549. The compressed air may be fed to the secondary nozzle 542, either direct through pipe 550 or through an intercooler 552, or both, in proportions determined by the adjustment of cock 549 which is actuated by means of suitable electrically operated means 56!, connected through the conductor 560 with a thermostat cona-ecsgosr trol 559 exposed to the cabin air being exhausted When the air is delivered direct to the secondary jet 542 without intercooling, it leaves the turbine warm even after expansion therein. If, however, the air is passed through the intercooler 552 prior to delivery to the nozzle 542, the subsequent expansion in the turbine will be sufficient to appreciably cool the air. By adjustment of the relative quantities of cooled and uncooled air delivered to the said turbine nozzle 542, the temperature of the air delivered to'the cabin. under pressure through the duct 555 can be controlled as desired. i 1

From the foregoing it will be evident that the invention may have a number of equivalent embodiments and several forms and arrangements of. associatedapparatus. It is to be understood that the foregoing is not to be limiting, butmay include any and all forms of method and apparatus which are included within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1; Ina gasturbine power plant, a compressor, a. gas turbine axially aligned with the compressor, a gear. drive connecting the gas turbine and compressor, a combustion chamber receiving com pressed air from the compressor and supplying actuatingheated gases and air to said gas turbine, a starting system for the plant comprising an air. turbine starting motor, a driving connection; extending radially from said gear driv'e to said starting motor whereby said starting motor is operable to drive said gas turbine tosinitiate power plant action, saidi driving connection illeluding a gear forming part of said gear drive and havingits axis disposed radially of the common axis of the gas turbine and compressor, a source of air under pressure for operating the air turbine motor, an ignition device including an. ignition circuit. for the combustion chamber,

and a mechanism for controlling the sequence of pressor whereby the gas turbine drives the compressor, the transmission including a pair of axially aligned bevel gears rotating respectively with the gas turbine and compressor, at least one shaft. extending radially relative to the aligned bevel gears, and a bevel pinion fixed to the shaft and meshing. with both said bevel gears,

a: starting turbine for driving said shaft to thus. drive the gas turbine and compressor to initiate power plant operation, means for supplying actuating gas under pressure to the starting turbine to drive the same, and an automatic mechanism for terminating the starting effort of. the starting turbine when the power plant attains a given speed in relation to the speed of the starting turbine.

3. In a gas turbine power plant having a compress'or, a gas turbine aligned axially with said compressor, and a combustion chamber receiving compressed air from the compressor and supplying hot' compressed air and gases to the gas turbinetodrive the same, the combination'jof a. ear transmission interposed between the gas turbineascribe-compressorwhere the gas turbine" drives the compressor-,the transmission including a shaft extending radially relative to the dimotion-or rotation ofthe turbine and in driving relation thereto; an air turbine of relatively small capacity driving relation to the shaft for startmgtne powerplant, a tank for containing compressed air for-actuating the air turbine, and a bleed connection for bleedingcompressed air from the compressor, when in operation, to the tank;

' 4. Ina gas t'urbinepower plant 'havinga com' pressor' a gas turbine aligned axially with said compressor, and a-combustion chamber for receiving compressed air from the compressor'and for supplying propellant hot air and gasesto t he' turbine to drive the same, the combination of a gear transmission between the gas turbine and the compressor whereby the gas turbine-drives the compressor; said transmission comprising a pair ofaxially-aligned gears coaxial with the 'gas turbine and the-compressor and connected tothe gas turbine andcompress'or, respectively, to ro-' tate with the gas turbine and compressor, re:

specti-vely,-and havin'g' teeth on their opposed faces, a-shaftextendingradially relative to said gears, a; pinion carriedby'said shaft and meshing iv'ith both gears, and a starting turbine con-= bine, the combination of a gear transmission bee tweenthe gas turbine and the compressor Where by the gas turbine drives the compressor, said transmission includinga pair of gears connected to said gas turbine and said compressor, respectively; a shaft extending radially of the common axis of thegas turbine andcompressor, a gear secured to said'shaffland having driving and driven engagement. with thegear' which is connected to said gas turbine, and a starting system for the plant comprising an air turbine of relatively sinall" capacity connected to said shaft to drive the: same, a storage tank for containing and supplying compressed air for actuation of the said air turbine to start thepower plant, and m ans for conducting compressed air from said compressor to. said storage tank during power plant'opei'ation.

6. In a power plant having a compressor, a gas turbine, means for. driving the compressor from said turbine, and a combustion'receiving compressed air from the compressor and supplying actuating heated'gases and airtois'aid gas turbine, a starting systemior the plant comprising an air motor in driving relation to the gas tur-' bine, a'comp'ressed air container for supplying compressed air for the actuation of said motor to start the plant, and means for supplying. compressed air under'pressure to said container when the pressure therein falls below a given value corn:

prising aponduit'for conducting compressed air from said compressor to saidcontainer during.

power plant operation, an auxiliary compressor for "supplying compressed air to said container; and means responsive to the pressure in said container for controlling the operation of said auxiliary com ressor, i

'7. A gas turbine power plant'compr'isinga com-' press'or; a gas turbine aligned axially'with said compressor, a drive connecting the gas turbine and the compressor, a combustion chamber receiving compressed air from the compressor and supplying actuating heated gases and air to said gas turbine, starting means operable to produce initial rotation of the compressor and the turbine including an air turbine starting motor, and conduit means for conveying compressed air from said compressor to said motor for expansion therein, and means in driving engagement with said drive and including a shaft extending radially of the common axis of said gas turbine and compressor for transmitting power from said motor to said gas turbine and compressor to rotate the same, said motor being connected to said shaft.

NATHAN C. PRICE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Schaun May 7, 1907 Number Number 26 Name Date Murphy Apr. 4, 1911 de Ferranti Aug. 8, 1911 Gill Oct, 31, 1911 Knight et a1 June 4, 1912 Hartsock et a1. Dec. 31, 1912 Heany Jan. 12, 1915 Pearson Oct. 12, 1915 Bonta Jan. 2, 1923 Good Oct. 9, 1923 Rudqvist Apr. 6, 1926 Kettering et a1. Nov. 22, 1927 Becker Apr. 18, 1933 Noack Jan. 7, 1941 Traupel May 11, 1943 Pfenninger Dec. 11, 1945 Larrecq Apr. 23, 1946 Goode Oct. 26, 1948 Prime et a1 July 12, 1949 Zucrow Nov. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Mar. 12, 1909 France June 18, 1924 

